Author: GT

TikTok content creator Kelley Heyer sued the video game Roblox for using her dance to Charli XCX’s “Apple” without permission. Heyer posted the viral dance in June 2024, which fed off of the hype of Charli XCX’s hit summer album “Brat.” The dance became so popular that Charli XCX incorporated it into her live show and even invited Heyer to perform the dance at her show in New York City. @kelley.heyer 1 month ago I made a dance on a whim and now look at everyone dancing along and having so much fun!! Thank you @Charli XCX for this amazing…

Welcome to Startups Weekly — your weekly recap of everything you can’t miss from the world of startups. Want it in your inbox every Friday? Sign up here. This week brought us mixed messages. A fresh IPO filing, but a bleak outlook for exits overall. New funding rounds, but founders frustrated over lack of capital. And in the midst of it all, some VCs are still finding ways to create liquidity and raising funding for more bullish times. Most interesting startup stories from the week Image Credits:David Paul Morris/Bloomberg / Getty Images In a week of contrasts, startups exhibited both…

Partiful’s CEO, Shreya Murthy, and CTO, Joy TaoCourtesy: PartifulWhen Shreya Murthy and Joy Tao decided to launch a party-planning startup in 2020, they settled on a business goal of “bringing people together in person.”The Covid-19 pandemic demanded the exact opposite.Despite the challenge of the pandemic, Partiful survived, and five years later, the New York startup is now used by millions of people to plan events such as birthday parties, housewarmings and weddings.The app’s a favorite of those ages 20 to 30, and it’s added 2 million new users since January, Partiful CEO Murthy told CNBC. The company has never revealed…

For startups around the world, the TechCrunch Startup Battlefield program offers unmatched exposure, credibility, and connections to scale their businesses. TechCrunch has long been committed to spotlighting companies solving real-world problems in scalable and sustainable ways — making it a powerful launchpad for startups both in and outside the U.S. Several Latin American startups have thrived in this environment. Tackling critical challenges in their regions with bold, innovative solutions, these companies have turned Startup Battlefield momentum into international success. With increased visibility and valuable connections, they’ve attracted global investors, expanded into new markets, and grown their teams. Some LatAm startups…

Some ChatGPT users have noticed a strange phenomenon recently: Occasionally, the chatbot refers to them by name as it reasons through problems. That wasn’t the default behavior previously, and several users claim ChatGPT is mentioning their names despite never having been told what to call them. Reviews are mixed. One user, software developer and AI enthusiast Simon Willison, called the feature “creepy and unnecessary.” Another developer, Nick Dobos, said he “hated it.” A cursory search of X turns up scores of users confused by — and wary of — ChatGPT’s first-name basis behavior. “It’s like a teacher keeps calling my…

Some ChatGPT users have noticed a strange phenomenon recently: Occasionally, the chatbot refers to them by name as it reasons through problems. That wasn’t the default behavior previously, and several users claim ChatGPT is mentioning their names despite never having been told what to call them. Reviews are mixed. One user, software developer and AI enthusiast Simon Willison, called the feature “creepy and unnecessary.” Another developer, Nick Dobos, said he “hated it.” A cursory search of X turns up scores of users confused by — and wary of — ChatGPT’s first-name basis behavior. “It’s like a teacher keeps calling my…

The government-run website covid.gov used to host information about COVID-19 vaccines, testing, and treatment. Now, under President Trump’s purview, the page redirects to a White House website espousing the unproven theory that COVID-19 originated in a Chinese laboratory. The theory, which has been opposed by many virologists, was espoused in a report by House Republicans last year that determined the pandemic began with a lab leak in China. House Democrats released a rebuttal at the time, stating the probe failed to determine COVID’s true origins. The covidtests.gov website, where people could previously order free coronavirus tests, also redirects to this…

Cathie Wood has drawn the attention of everyday investors in the past few years. That’s partly because her investment firm, Ark Invest, focuses on owning companies at the cutting edge of innovation. But it’s also because she is known for making very bold predictions about what the future will hold. This is apparent when you learn just how extremely bullish Cathie Wood is on a special asset. By 2030, she and her team believe that one top cryptocurrency will soar almost 1,700%. If this outlook is even remotely true, it can mean monster returns for investors. Where to invest $1,000…

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility — your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation. Sign up here for free — just click TechCrunch Mobility! Enough with my typical small talk. Let’s jump into the news right away this week. And there’s plenty of it, including Lyft’s entry into Europe, AV startup Nuro heading to Japan, the first drive of the Lucid Gravity SUV, a few New York International Auto Show highlights, and a SPAC.  Yes, the SPAC is back. Or did this financial instrument really ever fade away?  Let’s go.  A little bird Image Credits:Bryce Durbin…

Let’s face facts here: The crypto market is a sea of red right now. It’s almost impossible to find any coin that’s up for the year. And it’s not just meme coins and risky altcoins — even top cryptocurrencies have been hit hard by the current uncertainty over tariffs. Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, it’s still possible to find some beaten-down bargains in this sea of red. And I’ve found three coins that I think are going to outperform over the second half of 2025. Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what…